Piano teachers often lament that a downside of teaching is the economic slide during the summer months. While it is understandable that students (and teachers !) will take vacations and come and go during these months, it doesn’t have to mean financial upheaval for you. Now is the time to consider how you structure your studio calendar and the steps you will take to even out your year. In addition to the issue over summer finances, another question is what happens to student motivation and skills when they stop practicing for 3 months? How does the fall start-up work? I often hear the argument that “kids and teachers need a break.” Absolutely! That’s why I offer five summer lessons wrapped into my year around studio. This is explained to my parents when they come for an interview. Quarterly payments have 5 summer lessons factored in. If they are around for more, I will allow 2 bonus lessons at no additional tuition charge. This alleviates the issue that I do not offer make ups.
How much break is necessary to feel refreshed without losing skills? How many times have we heard that students are bored during August. The camps are over, and unless the family is planning an August trip, everyone seems to tread water waiting for school to start. Even my students who wish to spend a significant amount of time traveling abroad can double up on lessons (two in a week) to make the 5 lessons, they can still be gone up to 6 weeks. I close the studio of 3 weeks every summer. In the end most students still get almost 6 weeks off. Those 5 lessons are valuable in keeping skills up and at least starting to learn new repertoire which makes the next school year smoother. One parent I know was criticized because she was “making” her kids take piano in the summer. In addition, this Korean family also does a math sheet and reading per day. They understand the value of keeping skills from slipping. As she aptly put it, ” my kids practice piano and do their “summer worksheets.” The entire rest of the day they have to themselves to play, read, visit friends, etc. What is wrong with that? She makes a salient point. Truly how much time is necessary for kids to feel refreshed and ready to go? Her children seem absolutely fine and are ready to go back to school in late August.
While you may get push back initially from a few parents determined their kids will take off the summer, you can simply let them know that they can check in the fall or mid August and see what spaces you have available then. Registering in advance for fall is reserved for students who take a minimum of lessons during the summer. During my early teaching years, I tracked students who “held a spot” but took off the summer. This was my experience:
- It was Thanksgiving before I felt they had regained some of the skills they had lost over the summer. This means not only did they lose the summer months, they lost another 2.5 months. That’s between 4 to 5 months of lost learning per year.
- It was the students who took off the summer who would call in September and quit. The spots I had held for them were now vacant and I likely turned a student who could have taken that spot away. That’s two for zero.
- Students often had difficulty getting back to a practice routine. The schedule had been so broken for those summer months. That’s when I would receive the “October call.” That’s when the student decides after four weeks that re-entry and relearning skills is just not fun. Another student lost.
In reviewing these issues, I finally decided that allowing students to hold a spot (even with a non-refundable down payment) was simply not worth it to me. Once you establish an expectation for your studio, remember that every new student interviewing will begin with the premise that your is a “year around studio” with flexibility built into the schedule to allow for vacations and breaks, including your own. You will gain better students, better progress, and a markedly better income.
Next month: Summer Success Part II–what to do with those summer lessons!
Musically yours
Carol Ann